TY - JOUR T1 - One Cold Autumn Day JF - The Annals of Family Medicine JO - Ann Fam Med SP - 279 LP - 281 DO - 10.1370/afm.1781 VL - 13 IS - 3 AU - Peter de Schweinitz Y1 - 2015/05/01 UR - http://www.annfammed.org/content/13/3/279.abstract N2 - Behavioral change is at the heart of effective primary care, but when patients don’t change, how do we account for our days? In this personal essay, I relate an encounter with a patient who wants to quit smoking, lose weight, and control her diabetes. I am discouraged when she deflects my recommendations, but a colleague’s comment encourages a deeper inquiry. Knowing the patient’s story and deepening the conversation, however, do not guarantee change. The experience reminds me why patience, humility, and faith are core values of the primary care physician. ER -